BJP accuses DMK of violating poll code

Coimbatore: State BJP president K Annamalai has alleged that the DMK was committing a series of violations in the bypoll-bound Erode East assembly constituency. Stating that the complaint against the DMK to the state election commission had not evoked any response, Annamalai said the ECI should step in and ensure a free and fair election.
In a formal complaint to the EC, Annamalai alleged that on February 11, election authorities and police officials had seized tokens from the car of DMK south union treasurer Sarbudeen from Tirupur district, after they got information about distribution of money in Erode East.
“Last weekend, the DMK members distributed 2kg of meat to each voter as a bribe. DMK ministers stationed there have been assigned to pay 1,000 per voter if the voter wishes to sit in a designated place daily and 5,000 as incentive if the voter sat continuously for 20 days,” Annamalai alleged.
Annamalai recalled that the BJP had complained to the EC, seeking action against DMK members after a video of “a conversation” between DMK minister K N Nehru and Congress candidate E V K S Elangovan surfaced. According to him, Nehru and Elangovan were purportedly discussing “money distribution”. “The state election commission is yet to act against the complaint and has done nothing significant to stop the DMK government from blatant abuse of power,’’ he said, urging the ECI to ensure free and fair elections. TNN